July 17

(Jerry)We had breakfast and hurried out to buy a few souvenirs for some family and friends. We noticed an Alamo car rental office across the street from our hotel and stopped to see if we could just turn in our car to them and take a taxi to the airport. Last year we had a hard time finding and then getting to the rental return lot at the airport. The girl at the office said no problem, just give her the keys. It was well worth it to pay for taxi and be done with the car. We bought some wine and other gifts then sat down for another panaché, before leaving for the airport. Panaché was definitely our favorite drink of France. We got a taxi and headed for the airport. Still happy about not having to drive the rental car. Our luck finally ran out because the taxi dropped us at the wrong terminal. Then we had to take a bus to the other terminal. The terminals were not marked any better than the roads there. Once at the second terminal, two clerks told us to go one direction while another told us we were still in the wrong terminal. When our luck ran out it really ran out. We finally found the Delta counter, in spite of the airport help, and figured we’d get some sleep on the flight home. We had no idea that a baby can scream, not cry but scream, all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. That baby’s lungs would rival Lance’s! Finally we were off the plane with the screamer and would be home in a little over an hour. Right? No, more bad luck, bad weather and bad Delta agents and we’re stuck in Cincinnati for the night! We eventually got home the next morning.

It’ll take us a few days to get over our vacation. But the memories will last a lifetime. If you ever want to take a vacation to France, see the Tour, eat great food and be pampered… this is NOT the trip for you. Fun yes, exhausting absolutely! We drove 100 to 200 miles a day to keep up or get ahead of the Tour. You must have it all planned ahead of time or you’ll never keep up with them if you try to follow them stage to stage. Why do it? Three years ago you couldn’t have paid me to come to France. Cancer changed all of that, as well as putting other priorities of my life in line. I wanted to do something to fight cancer since my dad’s death from a brain tumor five years ago. It took my own diagnosis to find the Lance Armstrong Foundation. My best friend, and wife, Angie was right by my side and we knew this was the place to be. Going to France to support Lance was just part of the commitment. Sure it’s fun, but we spend our time waving the Lance Armstrong Foundation sign and talking to people around the world about what we’re doing and why. We’ve encouraged people to join us in Austin for the Ride for the Roses, and given people instructions on how to donate to LAF online. We hope someday that no family will ever have to go through what our family has endured with cancer. We’ve been through the worst and the best of cancer. We hope you never have to go through either.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our little journal from the 2002 Tour de France. Please help us in our support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation by going to this link and follow directions to make a donation to sponsor Peloton Member Jerry Kelly.

Please support the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Thank you,

Angie & Jerry Kelly

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